Mama's Boys were a hard rock band from Fermanagh. The members included the three McManus brothers as members. John McManus on bass, Tommy on drums, and the much-celebrated guitarist, Pat, a.k.a. "The Professor." They were joined by Keith Murrel on vocals for this track. This video for Waiting for a Miracle was commissioned by UTV during the band's "Growing Up the Hard Way" tour. Aside from the catchy '80s power rock, the video provides a fascinating look at the old Belfast Gasworks.
Nowadays, the Gasworks is a polished and sleek venue for high tech businesses and hosts a beautiful park. It was the site of Belfast's gas-making industry throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This gas was used for street lighting, domestic and industrial use. The business made a lot of money for the Council and even funded the construction of the current City Hall. The Gasworks were closed in 1985 as new technologies depleted the need for a dedicated production site. The site fell into disuse and became something of a wasteground. In the early 1990s, the Gasworks site finally got the miracle it was waiting for. A major refurbishment saw the renovation of the former industrial complex. This video, shot in 1987, provides a fascinating look at a hugely important place in Belfast's history during its fallow years. The beautiful clocktower is on full display, as well as the distinctive red brick walls. The Gasworks sit almost directly opposite UTV's former headquarters on the Ormeau Road, Havelock House. Some of the video was also shot at Eastwood's Scrapyard and the docks area of Belfast.
The video was directed by Robert Lamrock and shot by Sam Christie. Philip White was the editor.